Federal Tory nominations draw complaints

Devinder Shory, Tory MP for Calgary Northeast, faced two challengers for the nomination in his Calgary Skyview riding but both were disqualified by the Conservative Party.

Photograph by: Colleen De Neve Colleen De Neve
, Calgary Herald

More Conservative MPs in the Calgary area have been acclaimed, but not without some controversy.

Devinder Shory will be the Tory candidate in Calgary Skyview while Blake Richards will run in the new Banff-Airdrie riding.

Two potential challengers had lined up to face Shory but both were disqualified by the Conservative Party.

Puma Banwait and Buta Singh Rehill said Monday that their appeals had been denied by the party, with no explanation of their exclusion.

A disgruntled Banwait said Monday he’s contemplating running as an independent in the northeast Calgary riding in the 2015 federal election.

“Bring it on,” he said.

“I’ll discuss the issues with them all day long.”

Rehill said he remains confused over what happened.

“I’m just weighing my options and seeing what steps to take. I am a loyal Conservative member of the party and I plan to stay that way,” he said.

The Conservative Party has not responded to requests for comment on the Skyview nomination beyond confirming Shory’s application.

Shory and Richards join a number of other Tory nominees in and around Calgary. Incumbent MPs Michelle Rempel and Deepak Obhrai were recently acclaimed in the ridings of Calgary Nose Hill and Calgary Forest Lawn, respectively.

Calgary Centre MP Joan Crockatt won’t have to run again for the nomination in her riding because she was elected in a 2012 byelection. Former provincial cabinet minister Ron Liepert defeated MP Rob Anders for the Tory nod in Calgary Signal Hill.

John Barlow has been nominated by the Tories to run in the upcoming Macleod byelection. If he wins, he will be the party’s nominee in the new Foothills riding of 2015.

Dustin Fuller will carry the Liberal banner for the Macleod byelection while Matt Grant has been acclaimed as the Liberal candidate in the new riding of Calgary Confederation.

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